Combined foot-rest and kneeling-stool



(No Model.) v

H. MORRISON.

COMBINED FOOT REST AND KN-EELING STOOL No. 365,446. Patented June 28, 1887.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS To all whom it may concern: 7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY MORRISON, or PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

co M BIN ED Poor- EST AND KNEELlNG- -STOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Patent No. 365,446, dated June 28, 1887.

- Application filed March 3, 1887.

Be it known that I, HENRY MoRRIsoN, of

, Pittsburg. in the county of Allegheny and stered suitably for a foot-rest.

State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Foot- Rest and Kneeling-Bench; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a rear perspective View of myimprovement applied to a church-pew. Fig. 2 is an end'view, and Fig. 3 is a partial front View, thereof. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the board on the line or a", Fig. 2, showing the trunnion or bearing in which it is supported and pivoted. detail views.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

In the drawings, 2 represents the board,. which servesthe double purpose of a foot-rest and a kneeling bench or stool. It is pivoted longitudinally and eccentrically to upright frames or brackets 3, which are set under the pew. (Sec Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) One side, A, of the board is upholstered suitably for a kneeling-bench, andthe other side, A, is uphol-- As before stated, the board 2 is pivoted ecceutrically, and, as shown in Fig. 1, its narrower segment is made shorter than its wider portion and shorter than the distance between the brackets 3, so that the board may be turned on its bearings upside down from the position shown in Fig. 1, so as to bring its wider part to the Figs; 5, 6, 7 8, 9, 1.0 are front and to bring the side A up.

In Fig. l the device is arranged for use as a foot-rest, and by reason of the shortness of that part of the board which is forward of its axial linethe board may be rocked or oscillated on its axis, so as to be accommodated thereby to the desired position of the foot. WVhen the board is reversed, the ends of the board rest on the top rails of the brackets 3 and prevent any oscillation.

' In order. to make the reversal of the board noiseless and to assist therein, I use the tensile springs shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These springs preferably consist of rubber bands 4, which are attached to adj ustable pins 1) 011 the bracksemi No. 239.583. No model.)

ets 3 and to pins 5 on the board 2. These springs aid in the initial movement of the board in overturning it, and at the end of its motion to retard it, and to prevent jarring. The tension of the bands is regulated by vertical adjustment of the pin 1). There is a slot,

which is a short rack, f.

cis a plate providedon oneside with ratchet teeth a. The pin 1) has a screw-stem, which works in a threaded hole in the plate. pin has a shoulder, 7), near its base. By screwing the shank of the pin b into the plate 0, so as to clamp the bracket betweenthc plate a and the shoulder I), the plate 0 may be adjusted, at any position on the slot 6, and the racks f will hold it at the place where it is set.

In order to afford free play for the bands 4 and pins 5 when the .board is being reversed, I cutaway the top rails of the brackets 3, as at g.

pressure is sometimes applied, it is desirable to have the pivots or journal-connections very strong. It is alsodesirable that they should be noiseless in their action. I accomplish these results by means of the devices shown in Fig.4, which, however, I do not claim.

The pintle or trunnion 6, by which the board is supported, consists of an iron pin having a collar, 7, near its outer end, and having next to the collar an enlarged or swelled portion, 8.

pintle-shank is then inserted into ahole made in the board axially with the thimble, and when the thickened portion 8 enters this hole it wedges out the wood against the inner peripheryof the thimble and jams the whole device vcry firmly in place. During the insertion of the pintle into the hole the thimble keeps the board from splitting.

As shown in Fig. 4, the journal boxes or caps. 10 are short cylindrical boxes fixed to e, in the side of the bracket 3, on each side of The In devices ofthis sort, on which a heavy Beyond the collar 7 is the smooth cylindrical which groove is fitted the thimble 11., The

the tops of the brackets 3. Inside of these boxes are placed short tubes or thimbl es 12, of felt or other similar substance. The portion 9 of the pintle is fitted into the journal-box and bears against the felt, which renders the action of the pintle noiseless. Of course the arrangement of all the parts is the same at each end of the board.

In Fig. 8 I show a device whereby the braek-' ets 3 of Fig. 1 may be dispensed with, and the board journaled in brackets fixed directly to the end boards of the pew. A small bracket, 13, constructed on-top like the bracket 3 and provided with a journal-box, 10, is screwed to each end board of the pew, and the pintles 6 are journaled in the boxes 10 in the same way as before described.

In order to provide means for the adjustment of the band 4, I pivot to the end board below the bracket 13 a small disk, 14, having the pin 1) arranged eccentrically and projecting from its side. On the other side of the disk is a small tack, 15. The rubber band 4 is fitted on the pin 1), the disk 14 is turned until the point of attachment of the band is at the proper distance from the board, and then the disk is pushed against the pew-board, so as to stick the tack 15 into the wood. This holds the disk in position.

The advantages of my improvement are its cheapness of construction, its easy operation, its strength, and its noiselessness of movement.

My invention consists, first, in the use of the rubber band, fixed to the pew or bracket at a point below the board. Rubber bands fixed to the pew above the board and used for the same purpose are not new, but they are inconvenient in position and defective in their operation, because they oblige the board to be reversed in a direction opposite to the direction of reversal of my present board.

Second, it consists in the construction of the top rails of the brackets, which are cut away to afi'ord free movement to the pins 5 and the rubber bands.

Third, in the combination of the rubber band and the board with its narrower segment made shorter than the distance between the brackets, so that when the device is used as a foot-rest it may be rocked.

Fourth, in the adjustable point of attaclr ment for the rubber band and in the specific means which I employ for adjusting and regulating the tension of the band.

I therefore claim as my invention-- 1. A combined kneeling-bench and foot rest consisting of a pivoted reversible board, in combination with a tensile spring connecting the board with a point below it, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A combined kneeling-bench and foot rest consisting of a longitudinally-pivoted and reversible board, brackets which support the board, the board on one side of the pivots being shortened, whereby when in one position the board shall engage the bracket and when in the reversed position it shall oscillate, and a spring connecting the board with a point below it, said bracket being cut away to permit free operation of the spring, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. A combined kneeling-bench and footrest consisting of a pivoted reversible board, a tensile spring attached to the board, and a movable and adjustable pin to which the other end of the spring is attached, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. A combined kneeling-bench and footrest consisting of a pivoted reversible board, a tensile spring attached to the board, a plate, 0, provided with teeth, and a pin, I), screwed 'to the plate a and arranged in a slot having an adjacent series of teeth, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this th day of February, A. D. 1887.

HENRY MORRISON.

\Vitnesses:

W. B. CORWIN, J NO. K. SMITH. 

